MoxieMoms hosts a free brunch event in Marquette at the Living Well Chiropractic and Acupuncture on Sunday for Bereaved Mother’s Day, which honors those who have lost a child. (Photos courtesy of Megan Nowicki)

MARQUETTE – Sunday marks Mother’s Day. However, the previous Sunday, May 4, was an equally important day – Bereaved Mother’s Day, which honors those who have lost a child. Local non-profit MoxieMoms put on special free brunch events in Marquette at the Living Well Chiropractic and Acupuncture and in Gladstone at Saunders Point Brewing to mark the day and to offer support to grieving mothers. Over 30 women attended between the two locations. 

“Honoring this day is crucial because the loss of a child leaves an indelible mark and a profound grief that doesn’t diminish with time or circumstance,” said Megan Nowicki, founder of MoxieMoms. “This journey can be incredibly isolating, as the depth of this sorrow is often hard for others to fully grasp. International Bereaved Mother’s Day serves as a sanctuary of understanding. 

“It allows bereaved mothers to feel seen, connect with others walking a similar path, and counteracts feelings of loneliness. It provides a dedicated time to share memories, speak their child’s name aloud, and draw comfort and strength from a supportive community built on mutual understanding. This day recognizes that a mother’s love persists beyond loss and honors that enduring bond.”

MoxieMoms established itself as a non-profit in 2024, inspired by Nowicki’s own experience with losing a child and her frustration with the lack of resources available to women in similar circumstances. 

“Available resources were limited, and some carried significant costs, adding financial strain to the emotional burden, hospital bills, and unexpected funeral expenses,” said Nowicki. 

MoxieMoms now helps provide those resources, from holding support groups to offering financial assistance and meal trains to families who are grieving. Offering free events such as the Bereaved Mother’s Day brunch and bouquet event is a part of this mission. 

“Recognizing that joining this ‘club’ is involuntary and that life becomes incredibly delicate after losing a child, MoxieMoms strives to remove financial barriers and guarantee that every family knows they have a safe, welcoming space to share, connect and support,” said Nowicki. 

Nowicki found that connecting with other women who had experienced the loss of a child provided comfort and support, and now seeks to provide that environment for other women. 

“Finding community and connecting with others who have shared the experience of child loss is vital for grieving mothers,” said Nowicki. “While communities often rally around births or the deaths of elderly relatives, the support network can sometimes falter or feel inadequate after the loss of a pregnancy or a child.”

“Witnessing what MoxieMoms is accomplishing for families in our community fills me with incredible pride,” said Nowicki. “We are fundamentally shifting the narrative on child loss by cultivating a space where people are safe and empowered to discuss their grief. 

“Losing my own babies altered my life tremendously and showed me how essential this kind of shared support is in healing from something I will never be fully healed from. I needed a community that understood my pain, my emptiness and my heartbreak – I needed my village. That personal need is why I founded MoxieMoms: to create that essential village for others facing this journey of grief and loss.”

For more information or to get involved with MoxieMoms, email moxiemoms906@gmail.com or visit the website at moxiemoms.org.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.